Two Eyas, & Maybe Three~

It has been a very busy time for the Red-shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove and Beyond. .. There are 2 eyas for certain, and as of this morning, I am pretty sure 3. 

With those wings growing and flopping around, it is still difficult to know for sure, but I thought that I saw a third little white fuzzy head there. 

A couple more trees show canopy growth touching the nest tree and so tomorrow evening, I will place aluminum pending around them, as I did a couple of weeks ago, to keep those pesky Raccoons at bay. 

The young eyas are top priority for now, and I am so passionate about making sure that they have a good chance. 

I love that one of the families that is allowing me access to their property home schools their children and they are quite interested in the hawk activity. 

One of the little girls will yell  "Hi bird lady"  and I love that;')

The family that lives directly across the lane from the nest tree, the mom runs a preschool and her students and their families also know about the hawk activity and they are also quite excited by it all.

Another reason to help ensure that all goes according to plan, and does well~

I am also linking with World Bird Wednesday, please visit other birding photographers and enthusiasts from around the world at:

http://www.pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The adult male, usually is so busy bringing in multiple meals throughout the day, that he took a rare break recently.  In fact so rare, that I have only captured him at the nest like this before, once, or twice, ever~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Stories, Two Nest Sights, Both Thriving~

The Red-shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove and Beyond had 2 failed nest attempts last season, due to severe storms both times.  New Eyas had already begun to be fed, when both occurrences happened and it was a very sad time for me, as well as the hen grieved for days after her second nest blew away~

  We just ended week 4 of this season's nest, and the brooding of eggs has resulted in the hatching out of at least 2 eyas and I am really thrilled, anxious and hoping for success this time! 

The trees have all grown green under the canopy of new growth and the nest is well hidden.

On Friday the sanitation truck ran over a young snake and while it was still moving, as they do, it was doomed, and so I carried it down to the nest sight.  I have to be careful where I place these meals too.  I want the hawks to be able to locate, but I do not want them to be placed so close that they would draw attention to Vultures, or walking predators that may get too close to the nest tree~

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday morning, I witnessed the first feeding at around 7:15 AM, first an eyas to the left side of nest...

 

 

 

and beneath, the hen feeding another eyas to the right side of the nest, and possibly another in between...

The hen then rested in the morning sunlight~

A second Red-shouldered Hawk nest sight that I have been following for several weeks, is just about in the same stage as the one near home, though I have not seen any feedings take place yet.  The nest is located at an office complex and so I only take the drive into this location in Louisville on Sunday morning before going to church. 

I must warn you here, if you have a weakness for such things, be aware that the next images may be disturbing. 

As much as I have witnessed among these beautiful creatures, I must confess, it made me sad, and then... I realized this was nature unfolding, this takes place every day, thousands of times and I just happened to witness this one and what made things so bad, is... I have seen Gray Squirrels taken by these hawks, I have seen them take Chipmunks and the creatures die nearly on impact, not even knowing what happened, it occurs so quickly.  This Blue Jay however, would just not give up and die and that was the most difficult part it the taking of these images. 

I just kept whispering...die, please, just die, and then the hen finally carried it off to make sure it did just that and prepare it to feed her young eyas waiting up in the nest tree.  The male had already retreated to the tree and awaited the hen's  return~

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am also linking with World Bird Wednesday, please visit other birding photographers and enthusiasts from around the world at:

http://www.pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Hawk Nest in Final Week Before Chicks Arrive~

The hen is at the end of her full month of brooding her eggs and any day the first chick will hatch out!

 

Look how pretty the view is from this year's nest site~

 

I so enjoy this time of the season with the Red-shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove and Beyond~

 

 

 

It was not so easy, but I got a photograph of the back side of the nest~

OK, about the rabbit. 
If I see a freshly killed rabbit, squirrel, or snake, rather than having it go to waste, being continually run over by automobiles, which killed them to begin with, I will grab it up and deliver it near the nest site. 
This rabbit was a fresh kill and within 2 hours of delivering it to the nest site, it was gone.  DeAnn who lives across the lane from the nest, has a cat.  Her cat killed a Chipmunk, but does not eat them.  So...I also delivered the Chippy and it to was taken up very quickly.  On the good side...nothing is wasted and, the hawks may not have to make a killing on these days~

 

Several years ago, I learned the hard way, that without some kind of human intervention, many times the young chicks are taken by Raccoons.  I came up with an idea, that has really worked out very well.  I use aluminum pending and wrap the nest tree trunk, as well as any trees whose branches can touch the nest tree.  It is a most stressful time for me, but after so many years of doing this, I pretty much know the plan and the timing so that my actions have never caused the hawks to abandon the nest~

The hen flew in just as I arrived to check on the nest.  Soon she will spend more time off of the nest, as the chicks arrive and the weather warms and that should be a nice time to get some nice captures.  Here is hoping that this nest is successful, as both attempts last year failed for this pair~

We saw our first Gray Rat Snake of the season last week.  This is another one of the nice reasons for having hawks around for, they love these guys~

 

 

I am also linking with World Bird Wednesday, please visit other birding photographers and enthusiasts from around the world at:

http://www.pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Three years ago this past Spring, I had been thinking about my passion for Red-Shouldered Hawks and wondered if anyone else felt the same way.  I simply typed in the words on "google.com"  Love of Red-Shouldered Hawks and one name came up.  Vickie Henderson.  Since then, we became friends and I admire her passion for many birds, her creative genius in being able to draw and use watercolur medium to show their beauty.  She is also a very creative writer, author and when she recently shared about her newest book. I had to have a copy.  It is a small  book, yet with wonderful watercolours and drawings and writings about her season with a pair of theses beautiful Raptors.  I appreciate Vickie very much, for without her encouragement, I would never have known, any of you and now that so many have become so special in my life, that would be a miserable thought, for you are all very special.  Congratulations Vickie, well done~  

http://vickiehenderson.blogspot.com/2012/04/red-shouldered-hawk-territory.html